This is a list of albums I am most enjoying this month. It can also indicate which albums are most likely to move up or be added onto my "GREATEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME LIST", especially if the album stays on this list for a long period of time. I'll be updating it as much as necessary throughout each month. Anything that shows up on this list is highly recommended, even if it were a new album that only lasted a day. To even have a chance at this list, the album must already be outstanding. Anything less will not catch my attention enough to be worthy of addition.

Numbers to the right indicate how many times I've listened to the album this month. The number following that is how many times I've listened to it in my lifetime so far (usually an approximation, but close in its accuracy).

Well, I think it was a combination of factors. First, until this month I hadn't listened to it in a long time. I had it rated at an 8.5/10. I loved it, but up until recently I thought Reznor went somewhat overboard with the caged-in, extreme frusteration of the latter half of the album, and felt this held it back a little. When I started listening to it again, I realized that this actually falls perfectly in line with his intentions of realizing the work as a continual thematic thread from anger on down the spiral to self-indulgence and feeling a lack of worth, only to come out the other end with some recognition of hope. Once I realized the logic behind the psychology of the album, I was able to appreciate it as a whole more, and thus crown it a masterpiece. Additionally, I fell in love much more with the nuances of Reznor's production--the man was a genuis at this sort of thing. One of the best examples is all the nuance of track #7, all the emotion going on there in the backing instrumentals is really amazing. This quality shows up throughout the album. It is the 90's masterpiece of pent-up angst. While a very good band, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana never came close to the virtuistic display of riveting, visceral emotions, both vocal and in the engineering of instrumental assaults as in The Downward Spiral.